To all fellow sailors, friends, business owners and good hearted people in the community: Come on-board, share the spirit of Kiwi windsurfers Finn, Coral, Patrick and Xanthe.
Auckland sailors finished off their summer season with the 2 day Sail Akarana Regatta on March 29th and 30th. The four Skuds and six Libertys sailed day 1 in very light conditions, and did not get enough wind on day 2 to get in any more racing. Final Skud results saw the pairing of Brendan Tourell and Mark Winters take first place, with Paul Webber and Jan Apel in second, only one point behind, with Tim Dempsey and Gemma Fletcher in third, also only 1 point behind second. In The Libertys, Helena Horswell was first on countback, with John Buchanan second but equal on points, and Mark Sherer in third only 3 points behind.
Yachting New Zealand is delighted to announce that three young New Zealand sailors have been selected by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to attend the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games on from 16 – 28 August at Lake Jinniu, Nanjing in China.
High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) has today announced that Australian Mike McGovern will take up the role of General Manager Performance and Strategic Investment.
Yachting New Zealand would like to ensure that we are maintaining the quality of our National events and that classes are aware of the requirements for a National event to be recognised by YNZ.
On the 8th of March, Sailability Auckland hosted an “Experience Accessible Sailing” talent search day for new disabled sailors in the Paralympic Class Boats of 2.4m, SKUD and Sonar. About a dozen potential new sailors attended, and while most were local, people came from as far afield as Te Awamutu – now that’s keen! At least one of these people has now gone on to be classified and has been going out sailing in both a Liberty and a Sonar. Sailability Auckland has also gained several new members.
If you want to get into sailing, or know somebody who may be keen – have a look at the YNZ Website or Contact Helena at helena@yachtingnz.org.nz
18 year old windsurfer, Xanthe Bowater is one of two Cantabrians to represent New Zealand in the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team.
She was selected after winning the girl’s youth division at both 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland and the 2014 RS:X National Championships.
Yachting New Zealand is seeking to recruit a 49erFX Olympic class coach for its High Performance Program. Reporting to the High Performance Director the 49erFX Olympic Class Coach will join a dedicated team of professional coaches who are working together to lead sailors to win multiple medals at the 2016 Olympic Games. The role is primarily focused on leading the current World Championship 49er FX Olympic class to success at the 2016 Olympic Games.
In early June, two kiwi 2.4s, one Skud, and one Sonar will be packed into a container to go to the 2014 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships, being held in Halifax between 16th – 25th August. SKUD 18 helm Tim Dempsey says this will be the first time New Zealand has been represented in all three Paralympic sailing disciplines at a World Championship event.
Four Sailors from Auckland and three from Napier competed in Hansa Libertys at the Mighty River Power Regatta, held by the Lake Taupo Yacht Club on 8 and 9 March. While lake levels were low this year, making into boats awkward, it was good to see this event supported after the even lower lake levels last year prevented Hansa Class participation.
Taupo is a central location for all North Island sailors, and the regatta has other classes competing on the same course. This year it was well timed as a warm up event for sailors competing at the Hansa Nationals which were to be held at the Waitara Boating Club in Taranaki. Auckland sailors Helena Horswell, John Buchanan and Max Stacey filled the podium
2012 Paralympian Tim Dempsey and new sailing partner Gemma Fletcher are planning on competing at the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships in Halifax, Canada in August to qualify New Zealand for a place in the SKUD 18 at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
As part of their fundraising to get there they have organised a Quiz night and Auction on 12 June at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club .Tickets are only $30 which includes dinner. For full details and to book for the night go to http://rayc.co.nz/skud18quiz/ .
Can’t make it but still want to support them?
Visit their Facebook page "Kiwi SKUD 18 Team" ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/407446639289348/ ) to donate via Paypal or simply make a deposit directly into their bank account:
ASB Bank, Kiwi SKUD 18 Team, 12 3038 0414448 00
(preferred method is direct deposit as this avoids any processing fees, also please let them know if you make a donation so they can thank you)
Don’t forget to like them on Facebook
Yachting New Zealand is delighted to announce Kate Stewart (Wakatere Boating Club) and Taylor Balogh (Naval Point Club Lyttleton) as the recipients of the 2014 St John’s Rotary Scholarship.
Sam Meech has won Gold in the Laser class after a stunning final day performance in Medemblik at the 2014 Delta Lloyd Regatta. Making a return to Laser campaigning after a break Mike Bullot made it a double-podium for New Zealand winning the bronze medal.
Glamour weather and tricky winds dominated the third day of racing at the Delta Lloyd Regatta. The day looked perfect for sailing, but the word from the sailors coming shore was of shifty, gusty winds that kept everyone on their toes through the day.
Autumn is the season that most clubs to hold their Prize Giving ceremonies and it is great to see some familiar names in the disabled sailing community being recognised with awards.
On the 10th of May, The Napier Sailing Club awarded Mark and Katy Kenah the Sainsbury Logan and Williams Salver for Club Yachting Personality of the Year. Possibly the youngest people to achieve this award in the 123 years of club history!
On the same night in Auckland, the Royal Akarana Yacht Club named Helena Horswell their Yacht Person of the year
The Australian Hansa Class Nationals were held in Goolwa, South Australia between 18th and 21st April, with classes for 2.3s, 303s and libertys. The event was affected by both light and strong winds, so a full programme of racing was not able to be completed. An event report and final results can be found at http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-10087-0-0-0&sID=303953&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=29272552
On 11 May 2014, four more sailors were classified by Yachting New Zealand’s Chief Classifier, Helen McKenzie. A special thanks is extended to Helen who volunteered her time on Mother’s day for this, and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron who gave YNZ one of their highly sought after club rooms at short notice.
Being classified allows sailors to be certain that they fit the eligibility criteria for the type of boat they are sailing in Paralympic events.
Helen McKenzie will also be traveling to Halifax in August and Sail Melbourne later this year to assist with classification, after receiving a PM Scholarship for this earlier in the year
New Disabled Sailing Coordinator Helena Horswell has been appointed by Yachting New Zealand to replace Kristine Horne, who has moved into the role of Communications & Commercial Support.
Representing Auckland’s North Shore Clubs’ Murrays Bay Sailing Club and Takapuna Boating Club Patrick Haybittle is the second youngest member of the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team.
Patrick was selected after performing well at the selection events including Oceanbridge Sail Auckland and the RS:X National Championships in what is his first season on the RS:X board after progressing from the Techno 293 class.
An almost complete programme of races was completed on the second day of the Delta Lloyd Regatta despite the best intentions of the fickle weather to disrupt proceedings. After Tuesday’s near perfect start to the regatta, Wednesday didn’t quite go to plan with light winds delaying racing by five hours.
Competitors at the 2014 Delta Lloyd Regatta are very happy that summer has arrived in Medemblik in time for the regatta, in contrast to last year's cold and wintry conditions. On Tuesday 20 May, the 350 sailors from 49 nations enjoyed some close, tactical racing in light to moderate winds and very warm temperatures.
A new record was set in New Zealand Teams Sailing with Kerikeri High School’s open team winning their fifth consecutive national title, which has never been done in the regatta’s 30 year history.
In the build up towards the Rio Games, Paralympics New Zealand’s Rio 2016 Chef de Mission Ben Lucas declared he is impressed by the progress made toward staging the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after visiting the city for the first National Paralympic Committee Open Day in the history of the Paralympic Movement.
Lucas joined more than 40 delegates from 17 countries spanning the five continents and spent two days in Rio last week being updated on the project by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and visiting competition sites across the city.
Ben Lucas said “I left assured that Rio is on track to deliver a great Games in 2016. I was particularly impressed with the Paralympic Village which will have its own distinct atmosphere and accessible facilities.” He continues, “Construction concerns have decreased as we saw evidence of progress across the sporting venues as well as transport infrastructure.”
PNZ and Ben Lucas will continue to monitor progress as we move towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games start date.
The 2014 Secondary School Team Sailing Nationals were held at Sandspit Yacht Club, Algies Bay.
32 teams entered and were seeded into three fleets, to sail a series of Round Robins on two courses, with repechages available to allow teams to progress up the point’s ladder.
This is Finn sailing at its most athletic and powerful best. There is raw power, consummate skill, intense competition and incredible boat handling – it is extreme Finn sailing in near extreme conditions from some of the best Finn sailors in the world; even some of the best athletes in the world.
